Clamping rod for the suspension of material in the form of sheets or the like

ABSTRACT

The present invention concerns a clamping rod for the suspension of material, especially sheet-formed material, such as signs and the like. Said clamping rod comprises two substantially rigid flanges which are mutually parallel or convergent and whose edges define a gap into which said material is insertable. A V-formed leaf spring is clamped between said flanges in such a position thereto that a first leg of said spring in said gap abuts against a first one of said rigid flanges along a contact line adjacent the bending line between the two spring legs, and the outer edge of the other leg thereof resiliently presses against the other rigid flange at a distance inside of said gap. Upon insertion, the material is retained between said other flange and the outer edge of said other spring leg.

ited tates Patent 1191 Hemgren 1 Mar. 19, 1974 [5 CLAMPING ROD FOR THESUSPENSION 344,555 6/1886 Wood 248/316 D 1? M TE IN THE FORM OF SHEETS793,162 6/1905 Schmidt 248/316 D X 2,995,795 8/1961 Samson 24/259 PF ORTHE LIKE 3,225,409 12/1965 Daniels 160/392 X [75] inventor: Sven AndersHemgren, Kungsangen, 3,513,902 5/1970 Merillet 160/392 Sw d 3,350,045/1967 Mayers 248/316 D X [73] Assignee: Beckman & Ullbin AB, Stockholm,Primary Franklin Foss Sweden Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Salter &Michaelson [22] Filed: Apr. 3, 1972 [57] ABSTRACT I 2 [2 1 Appl NO40,644 The present invention concerns a clamping rod for the suspensionof material, especially sheet-formed mate- Foreign Application PriorityData rial, such as signs and the like. Said clamping rod com- May 28,1971 Sweden .1 6937/71 pris s two substantially rigid flanges which aremutually parallel or convergent and whose edges define a [52] 11.8. CI.248/316 1R, /156 g p into hi h ai m rial is insertable. A V-formed [51]Int. Cl A47h 21/00 f pri g is l mpe bet n said flanges in such a [58]Field of Search 248/316 R, 316 D, 473, p n h r o that a fir t leg ofsaid spring in said 248/489; 21 l/; 40/156, 11 R; 24/255 S, gap abutsagainst a first one of said rigid flangesalong 255 FC, 259 PC, 259 PP;/392, 395, 371; a Contact line adjacent the bending line between the52/502 two spring legs, and the outer edge of the other leg thereofresiliently presses against the other rigid flange [56] Reference Citedat a distance inside of said gap. Upon insertion, the UNITED STATESPATENTS material is retained between said other flange and the 2,913,24412/1959 Laney 248/316 D x mite; edge of sad other sprmg 3,696,85710/1972 Torte 160/371 7 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEUHAR 1 9 I974FIG.5

4 FIG.50

CLAMPING ROD FOR THE SUSPENSION F MATERIAL IN THE FORM OF SHEETS OR THELIKE The present invention concerns a clamping rod for the suspension ofmaterial in form of sheets.

A great number of devices for the suspension of sheet-formed material,such as notices, signs and the like, are known and the constructionthereof varies from a single board of wood on which the material issecured by means of drawing pins to a sheet of magnetic material onwhich the material is held fast by means of small magnets. Deviceshaving a clamping action are also known, such as simple spring clipsattached to a support or clamping devices having displaceable memberswhich hold the material by pressing same against a support under theaction of gravity.

All the previously known devices have different disadvantages. The firstof the abovementioned devices thus require loose members, i.e., drawingpins and magnets which are easy to loseand sometimes hard to apply. Theuse of other known devices is limited by the fact that the devices mustbe placed in a given position so that the gravity may be employed.

Another feature influencing the usefulness of devices of this kind isthe appearance thereof. The intention is to present an information ofsome kind to a public and a notice or a sign is easier noticed and moreoften read if it is shown in an attractive manner.

Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to provide a clampingrod for the suspension of sheet-like material, which overcomes theabovementioned disadvantages and may be adapted to a number of uses notattained before. The clamping is furthermore fully independent of itsmounting position and can be used when arranged horizontally orvertically and also in an arbitrary inclined position. A furtheradvantage resides in the fact that a clamping rod with the sameeffectiveness suspends a thin sheet of paper as a thick piece ofcardboard. Furthermore, the clamping action becomes stronger when theweight of the suspended object increases. so that said weightpractically is only limited by the strength of the object or itspackage.

The present invention therefore consists of a clamping rod for thesuspension of sheet material, for instance signs, which clamping rodcomprises two substantially rigid flanges which are mutually parallel orconvergent and whose edges define a gap into which said sheet materialis insertable, and which is mainly characterized by a V-formed leafspring which is clamped between said flanges, so that a first leg ofsaid spring abuts in said gap against a first one of said rigid flangesalong a contact line adjacent the bending line between the two legs ofsaid spring, and so that the outer edge of the other leg thereof pressesagainst the other rigid flange at a distance inside of said gap.

Further advantageous developments of the clamping rod according to theinvention are defined in the attached sub-claims.

In the following. the invention will be described in detail withreference to the attached drawing in which FIG. 1 is an isomeric view ofa clamping-rod according to the invention with a piece of sheet-formedmaterial inserted into said rod,

' FIG. la is an isomeric view of a leaf spring forming a part of theclamping rod,

FIG. 2 is an isomeric view of a suspension bracket for the clamping rod,

FIG. 2a is an end view of a clamping rod and a cooperating suspensionbracket,

FIG. 2b is a plane view of a clamping rod with a mounting means for thesame,

FIG. 3 is a plane view of a clamping rod with a mounting means for thesame,

FIG. 4 is a corresponding view showing a somewhat modified embodiment ofthe mounting means,

FIG. 5 is an isomeric view of a mounting bar for the suspension of aclamping rod,

FIG. 5a is a plane view of said mounting bar,

FIG. 5b is a plane view of a clamping rod with a mounting means for thesame.

Principally, the clamping rod consists of two rigid flanges 2 and 3which longitudinally extend parallely to each other and between which agap d is provided, into which one edge of a sheet-formed piece 5 ofmaterial is insertable. Between said flanges a leaf spring 6 is soarranged that one free end thereof extends from said gap 4 in thedirection of insertion of said material piece 5 and said free endresiliently rests against the flange 2. Said flanges 2 and 3 may beparallel or converge towards said gap 4.

When said material piece 5 is displaced inwardly, it lifts said springleaf end from said flange 2 and is clamped fast between said end andsaid flange. On account of the fact that said lift spring 6 extends inthe direction of insertion, a movement of the material piece 5 in theopposite direction will tend to carry the spring end along and due tothe extension of said spring, said end will be pressed harder againstthe material piece 5 and the underlying flange 2, so that the retainingforce is increased. However, the material piece 5 can easily be removedby means of a. sharp pull in same.

The clamping rod shown in FIG. 1 is constructed according to thisprinciple but modified in certain respects, so that further advantagesare provided.

The two rigid flanges 2,3 thus converge towards said gap 4 and at theopposite edges thereof they are rigidly interconnected by means of a web7. One flange 2 extends perpendicularly to said web 7 and the otherflange 3 forms an acute angle thereto.

Between said two flanges the web 7 is provided with a ridgelikeprojection 8, extending parallel with said flange 2,3 along the wholelength of the clamping rod 1. The projection 8 forms an angle with theweb and the outer edge thereof is situated at a greater distance fromthe flange 2 extending perpendicular to said web 7 than the foot partthereof. The corner of the projection 8 facing the other flange 3 iscomparatively sharp.

The leaf spring 6 arranged between the flanges 2,3 is bent into an angleand comprises a shorter leg 6a, a longer leg 61) and the outer endportion 6c of the latter is angle-bent relatively to the longer leg 6bin a direction away from the shorter leg 6a. The leaf spring 6 formed inthe above-described way is clamped between the flanges 2 and 3 in such away that the outer edge of the angle-bent end portion 6c rests in theapex of the angle between the web 7 and the flange 3 of the clamping rodl. The longer spring leg 6b abuts against the sharp corner 9 of theprojection 8 along a line at some distance from the bending line 6dbetween this spring leg 6b and said end portion 60. said longer springleg 6b furthermore abuts against the inner side of the rigid flange 3forming an acute angle with said web 7, the

contact line being situated somewhat inside the bending line 62 betweenthe legs of said leaf spring 6. Said longer spring leg 6/; is therebyslightly arched with the convex surface thereof facing said flange 3.The shorter spring leg 6a in its turn extends from the lastmentionedbending line 6e towards the opposite flange 2 and rests against samewith its outer edge. Thus, the bending line 6e between the legs 6a and6b of the leaf spring 6 extends close adjacent and parallel with saidgap 4 and the shorter spring leg 6a extends from the gap 4 in thedirection of insertion of the material piece 5 resiliently to restagainst the flange 2.

When a thin material piece 5 is insetted into the gap 4, the shorter leg6a of the leaf spring 6 is pressed away from the flange 2 while swingingaround the contact line between the longer spring leg 6b and theopposite flange 3. Unwanted pulling out of the material piece 5 isprevented in the manner described above.

If a material piece 5 of comparatively great thickness is inserted. thelonger spring leg 6b is displaced away from the gap 4 so that the endportion 60 is brought closer to the web 7 and in extreme cases will abutagainst same. Thereby the portion of the longer leg 6b of the leafspring 6. which is situated between the corner 9 of the projection 8 andthe contact line with the flange 3, is shortened while the radius ofcurvature of the longer leg 6b simultaneously is decreased, so that thedistance of said contact line from the bending line 6e between the legs6a and 6b is increased. The insertion of a thicker material piece thusresults in a greater swinging movement of the shorter spring leg 6a, butthe total active spring length is simultaneously increased, wherefore acompensation takes place and the pressing force against the materialpiece 5 will substantially remain constant independent of the thicknessof the -said piece. The force necessary to remove a piece of material istherefore also substantially constant, while unintentional removal ofsaid piece is counteracted by a force which substantially varies withthe weight of said material piece.

As shown in FIG. 1 the clamping rod 1 is preferably symmetric withrespect to said web 7, so that a gap 4 opens in each direction and isdefined by one pair of rigid flanges 2, 3 each. The leaf spring 6 may besubdivided into several pieces, spaced in the longitudinal direction ofsaid clamping rod.

FIG. 2 shows a suitable means for the suspension of a clamping rodaccording to FIG. 1. Said means comprises at least two bracketsconsisting of a plate strip 12 provided with a hole 14 or the like atone end for fastening the bracket to a support. The opposite edge 15 ofthe plate strip 12 is bent approx. 180 so that a groove is formedbetween said strip and said edge 15. As seen in FIG. 2a, the bracket isinserted in the gap 4 of the clamping rod 1 in such a way that the freeedge of the shorter spring leg 6a engages into said groove. The weightthe bracket is able to carry is thus only dependent on the strength ofthe leaf spring.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show another mounting device for a clamping rod 1according to the invention, which also allows vertical mounting. Saiddevice consists of a fitting 16 provided with a longitudinal groove inwhich a clamping rod 1 is insertable. said groove being recessed alongboth sides so that it grips over the edges of the clamping rod. A lockscrew 17 is screwed in through one side wall of the groove to secure theclamping rod.

By the embodiment according to FIG. 3 said fitting 16 is attached to afoot plate 18 which by means of screws may be fastened to a support.Said foot plate 18 covers one end of said groove and serves as a stopmember for the clamping rod. The fitting 16 is suitable for attachting aclamping rod at an angle to a support.

By the embodiment of FIG. 2 the fitting is attached to the support bymeans of screws which pass through holes in the bottom of the groove andare counter-sunk therein, thus in a position parallel to the support.One end of the groove is closed by means of a plate 19 serving as a stopmember.

A further means for suspending clamping rod 1 according to the inventionis shown in FIG. 5. Said suspension means is formed as a suspension bar20 for each end of the clamping rod. Said suspension bar 20 is slightlybroader than the clamping rod, as measured over the edges of theopposing flanges 2 being perpendicular to said web 7. Along the oppositeedges thereof, said suspension bar 20 is provided with grooves 21extending parallely to said edges and being formed to take up one edge10 each of said flanges 2. Said grooves 21 have such a form that each ofthem includes a portion 22 engageable over said flange edges 10, so thata clamping rod 1 is only engageable with a suspension bar 20 by means oflongitudinal displacement and simultaneous insertion of the flange edges10 into said grooves 21.

When a clamping rod 1 is suspended into suspension bars 20 of theabovementioned type, it may happen that the surroundings prevent asufficient longitudinal displacement of the clamping rod to attainengagement with or disengagement from said suspension bars 20. Toovercome this disadvantage, the overengaging portion 22 of the grooves21 of said bars 20 can be cut away a distance 23 in over said bar fromone end thereof. The clamping rod 1 can then be mounted in such a waythat one end thereof is placed against the cooperating suspension bar 20with said end aligned with the border line (shown with a dash-dot linein FIG. 5a) between said cut-away portions 23 and the remainingoverengaging portions 22. Thereafter the clamping rod is longitudinallydisplaced so far, while bringing said end into engagement with thegrooves 21, that the opposite end of the clamping rod can be broughtinto alignment with the corresponding border line of the 00- operatingsuspension bar 20, whereafter said clamping rod is longitudinallvdisplaced in the opposite direction into the position shown in fulllines, while said end is fitted into said grooves 21. Thus, the spacenecessary for the displacement of the clamping rod may be materiallydiminished.

The suspension bar 20 may be further modified by bending the outer end24 of at least one of its overengaging portions 22 into the grooves 21in order to serve as a stop means for the clamping rod 1. The supportingbar 20 according to this modification may be used for vertical orinclined mounting of clamping rods 1.

The suspension bar 20 is attached to a support by means of screws whichextend through the web portion thereof and are counter-sink therein.Said web portion may preferably have such a form that it engages andsupports the outer sides of the cooperating flanges 2.

From the preceding description it should be evident that clamping rodsaccording to the invention may be used in many circumstances, some butnot all of which are listed below: For the suspension of signs, pricenotices and the like at counters, deep-freeze showcases and at otherplaces in shops, and also for showing merchandise, preferably suchpacked in plastic bags, for sign boards of all kinds, for suspension ofcut films in viewing devices for X-ray plates and negatives, and forretouch stands, for drawing tables etc. in the lastmentioned cases theclamping rod is preferably countersunk into the support, so that the topsurface thereof is aligned with the inner surface of the-flanges 2.

The clamping rod according'to the invention may furthermore bemanufactured in short pieces, for instance corresponding to the lengthof one of the spring pieces mentioned earlier, or in arbitrary lengths.As pointed out above, the mounting position is of no consequence, sincethe clamping rod fulfills its function whether it is horizontal,vertical, or inclined. The thickness of the sheet material may also varywithin wide limits.

What I claim is:

l. A clamping rod for the suspension of sheet material, for instance,signs, which clamping rod comprises two substantially rigid flangeswhich are mutually parallel or convergent and whose edges define a gapinto which said sheet material is insertable, characterized by aV-formed leaf spring which is clamped between said flanges so that afirst leg of said spring abuts in said gap against a first one of saidrigid flanges along a contact line adjacent the bending line between thetwo legs of said spring, and so that the outer edge of the other legthereof presses against the other rigid'flange at a distance inside ofsaid gap, the edge of the flanges opposite to those defining said gapbeing rigidly interconnected by means of a web, whereby said firstflange converges relatively to said other flange which is perpendicularto said web, said web between and parallel to said flanges beingprovided with a ridge-like projection, and the outer end portion of saidfirst leg of said leaf spring being angle bent relatively to said firstleg in a direction away from said other spring leg, the outer edge ofsaid outer end portion resting in the apex of the angle between said weband said first flange and one edge of said projection engaging the sideof said first spring leg, facing away from the cooperating flange,intermediate the bending lines between said spring legs and between saidfirst spring leg and said end portion, respectively.

2. A clamping rod as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that saidfirst leg of said leaf spring intermediate said bending lines isconvexly arched towards said first 3. A clamping rod as claimed in claim1, characterized in that said leaf spring is sub-divided into shortlengths spaced in the longitudinal direction of said clamping rod.

4. A clamping rod as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that two pairsof rigid flanges symmetrically protrudes in opposite directions fromsaid web and that a leaf spring is clamped between the flanges of eachpair.

5. A clamping rod as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the edgesof said flanges defining said gap are bent away from each other.

6. A clamping rod for the suspension of sheet material, for instancesigns, which clamping rod comprises .two substantially rigid flangeswhich are mutually convergent and whose edges define a gap into whichsaid sheet material is insertable, a V-formed leaf spring defined bylegs joined along a bending line, said leaf spring being clamped betweensaid flanges so that the bending line between the legs of said spring ispositioned in said gap and a first leg of said spring in said gap abutsagainst a first one of said rigid flanges along a contact line adjacentthe bending line between the said edge portion and said plate strip.

1. A clamping rod for the suspension of sheet material, for instance,signs, which clamping rod comprises two substantially rigid flangeswhich are mutually parallel or convergent and whose edges define a gapinto which said sheet material is insertable, characterized by aV-formed leaf spring which is clamped between said flanges so that afirst leg of said spring abuts in said gap against a first one of saidrigid flanges along a contact line adjacent the bending line between thetwo legs of said spring, and so that the outer edge of the other legthereof presses against the other rigid flange at a distance inside ofsaid gap, the edge of the flanges opposite to those defining said gapbeing rigidly interconnected by means of a web, whereby said firstflange converges relatively to said other flange which is perpendicularto said web, said web between and parallel to said flanges beingprovided with a ridge-like projection, and the outer end portion of saidfirst leg of said leaf spring being angle bent relatively to said firstleg in a direction away from said other spring leg, the outer edge ofsaid outer end portion resting in the apex of the angle between said weband said first flange and one edge of said projection engaging the sideof said first spring leg, facing away from the cooperating flange,intermediate the bending lines between said spring legs and between saidfirst spring leg and said end portion, respectively.
 2. A clamping rodas claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said first leg of said leafspring intermediate said bending lines is convexly arched towards saidfirst flange.
 3. A clamping rod as claimed in claim 1, characterized inthat said leaf spring is sub-divided into short lengths spaced in thelongitudinal direction of said clamping rod.
 4. A clamping rod asclaimed in claim 1, characterized in that two pairs of rigid flangessymmetrically protrudes in opposite directions from said web and that aleaf spring is clamped between the flanges of each pair.
 5. A clampingrod as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the edges of saidflanges defining said gap are bent away from each other.
 6. A clampingrod for the suspension of sheet material, for instance signs, whichclamping rod comprises two substantially rigid flanges which aremutually convergent and whose edges define a gap into which said sheetmaterial is insertable, a V-formed leaf spring defined by legs joinedalong a bending line, said leaf spring being clamped between saidflanges so that the bending line between the legs of said spring ispositioned in said gap and a first leg of said spring in said gap abutsagainst a first one of said rigid flanges along a contact line adjacentthe bending line between the two legs of said spring, and the outer edgeof the other leg of said spring pressing against the other rigid flangeat a distance inside of said gap.
 7. A clamping rod as claimed in claim6, a suspension bracket consisting of a plate strip having a hole at oneend and an edge portion at the other end bent approximately 180*thereto, said bracket being insertable with the lastmentioned end intothe clamping rod gap, wherein the free end of the leaf spring engagesbetween said edge portion and said plate strip.